I read this book 30 years ago as a young medical student. The book is full of stories like the ones you hear today about Hyydroxychloroquine.
Uncontrolled studies and anecdotes showing dramatic cures of over 100 different diseases with one single drug!! Phenytoin!
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Uncontrolled studies and anecdotes showing dramatic cures of over 100 different diseases with one single drug!! Phenytoin!
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I was so amazed when I read it. I truly believed that this remarkable drug had been overlooked.
Luckily I was introduced (by Dr. Alan Gijsbers) to these two books which taught me how easy it is to be fooled by anecdotes and non randomized drug trials.
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Luckily I was introduced (by Dr. Alan Gijsbers) to these two books which taught me how easy it is to be fooled by anecdotes and non randomized drug trials.
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As a young medical student the effect of these two books on my approach to medicine, and my subsequent academic success cannot be overstated. I would recommend that all medical students read these two books.
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The message I want to convey is that when we have a vulnerable population, terrified by a worldwide virus, we all want to believe stuff. You can make anything, even plain water, look good if you wanted to in an uncontrolled study.
Drugs have risks, & why we need proper trials
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Drugs have risks, & why we need proper trials
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It’s ok early on to have a hypothesis that HCQ may help. It’s ok to be interested when early studies show “promise”.
But it is wrong to promote its use now when multiple randomized trials show no benefit, & when we know that the drug has serious side effects. It’s reckless.
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But it is wrong to promote its use now when multiple randomized trials show no benefit, & when we know that the drug has serious side effects. It’s reckless.
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And, by the way. Phenytoin doesn’t work for 100 different diseases nor it it used to treat 100 different diseases. It’s used mainly to treat seizures which we knew in the 1930s.
